Demonstrators join together in South Providence to demand safer streets

Tuesday

Jul 2, 2013 at 12:01 AM

PROVIDENCE — As motorists slowed and stared, the crowd began to chant: “Peace in our streets!” One by one, they made a line that stretched along the road’s edge from 802 to 826 Broad St. About a hundred people, black, white, Hispanic, families, neigh

Amanda Milkovits Journal Staff Writer amandamilkovits

PROVIDENCE — “You’ve got to stay connected!” Kobi Dennis ordered, as the crowd milling on the sidewalk in front of him Monday afternoon began to assemble.

“We’ve got to stay connected!” called back Lita Pona-King, wearing a white T-shirt with the word “Prayer,” as she walked in front of people, who began holding hands or linking their arms as they stood along the heart of South Providence.

One by one, they made a line that stretched along the road’s edge from 802 to 826 Broad St. About a hundred people, black, white, Hispanic, families, neighbors, strangers, ministers, street workers, activists, spanning ages from toddlers to the elderly, all linked arms with each other. Many wore T-shirts designed by the family of a young mother killed in a drive-by shooting in Providence. Their shirts said: Peace, Faith, Love, God, and Why?

As motorists slowed and stared, the crowd began to chant: “Peace in our streets!”

A few passers-by stopped outside a corner store and watched. People came out on a porch and watched from windows, smiling as the crowd grew louder.

“We want … ” Dennis called out.

“Peace in our streets!” they responded.

“We need … ” Dennis shouted.

“Peace in our streets!” they chanted.

“We wish for … ”

“Peace in our streets!”

As a school bus drew by, a girl leaned out a window, raising her fist and shouting: “Peace in our streets!”

This is what Dennis, the executive director of Project: Night Vision, and other organizers wanted — the sight of people of all races, all walks of life, all neighborhoods, standing together against gun violence. “Does this solve the problem? No. It’s step by step,” Dennis said. “I wanted people to lock arms. Just to get together. We’re all here to stand as one.”

The gathering followed a peace rally and march attended by about 200 people across the city in Hartford Park on Saturday evening in memory of 12-year-old Aynis Vargas, who was shot to death there two weeks ago. Her murder was still unsolved.

The South Providence neighborhood where Monday’s rally took place sees some of the worst gun violence in the city. The gathering was a few blocks from where 21-year-old Esscence T. Christal was murdered in November 2011. She was driving her boyfriend and another man in a borrowed car when someone in an SUV pulled up alongside them and opened fire. Her family believes the gunman intended to shoot the boyfriend, who’d been shot at before, but hit Christal instead.

Christal’s family is raising her son Dwayne, now 7. “We’re so blessed,” Christal’s mother, Diana Garlington, said as Dwayne bounced around the gathering in a T-shirt that said “Faith.” “He’s just like her.”

Christal’s family wanted to do something to honor her and help other families. When they came home from church Sunday afternoon, they decided to make T-shirts for all of the protestors, said Christal’s older sisters, Chavon and Keyonna.

They worked until 5 a.m. Monday, creating shirts with words meant to inspire. Garlington’s shirt said, “Speak Up!” — something she hoped others would do to help stop gun violence and bring people to justice. Such as the person who killed Christal.

The gathering drew residents who said they’re tired of hearing gunfire and being unable to let their children outside. “It’s horrible,” said Nicole Carson, who lives on Updike Street. “I come home from work one day, and there was 10 shell casings in front of my house.”

A single mother, Carson said she keeps her children inside, where they can be safe. “I’m trying to find things for them to do this summer.”

They need more police officers, more programs for the children and more neighbors who will look out for each other, said Blanca Avila, of nearby Moore Street. Which is why they came to the rally on Broad Street. Pona-King, who lives around the corner on Mawney Street, told them about it, and they wanted to come together, said Nelly Santos, of Moore Street.

“I can’t tell you why it’s happening,” Pona-King said of the gun violence. “But I can tell you as residents we’re going to stick together.”

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